Audi S6 review

Is diesel dead? Well, not if you’re Audi. Instead of swapping all its cars over to petrol power Audi is still producing even more diesels, including the 344bhp 3.0-litre V6 in this Audi S6. And if you’re after a sporty A6 Saloon or Avant, it is your only option — there is no petrol-powered alternative.

Is that a bad thing? Potentially, if future tax-rule changes effectively outlaw diesels, but right now that isn’t the case. In fact, diesel is at a huge advantage over petrol, in terms of the higher torque outputs it brings — and more torque is what you need for effortless progress — as well as good fuel economy.

To assuage any thoughts that this is a dirty diesel, the S6 has some clever tricks up its sleeve. These are all centred round its 48-volt electrical system, which supports mild-hybrid technology to boost both efficiency and performance. For instance, it allows the engine to switch off completely and coast for periods of up to 40sec when you lift off the accelerator, to improve cleanliness, on motorways in particular.

It also recovers energy that would otherwise be lost during braking and stores it as electricity to be used by an electric compressor (EPC). This works alongside the regular turbocharger and is claimed to boost the S6’s low-rev responsiveness.

So, there’s certainly plenty to get excited about for what is a performance car with a luxury twist, but is it the one to go for? You have a few other choices in a similar price band, including the Mercedes-AMG E 53 and BMW 540i.

Read on to find out, and when you’ve decided whether the S6 is for you or not, head to our New Car Buying pages for the very best hassle-free deals.